More than 250 people recently signed an online petition opposing a change to school start times in Barrington.

The local school committee has publicly supported the shift in start times — which would allow the middle and high school students to start the school day closer to 8:30 a.m. 

Barrington High School currently starts at 7:40, while the middle school starts at 7:45. 

A summary of the petition, which can be found at change.org, states "The students, parents, residents and the community of Barrington Public Schools clearly oppose the start times being pushed back. We say give the students, teachers, and the community a say, because this decision affects us. This decision to push back our start times would put school dismissals to after 3:00, and would cost taxpayers a minimum of $246,000 every year, and we could use that money for better resources or savings for the town, or simply not raise our taxes. Don't let the majority be disregarded."

School officials are currently exploring a shift to a two-tier busing system, which, in addition to allowing for later start times at the middle and high schools, would also better align the start times for K-3 schools and fourth and fifth grade students at Hampden Meadows School.

This week, a letter from Barrington High School student Jane Small stated that 80 percent of students are opposed to later start times. She also cited a recent survey of students that showed 87 percent of students would simply stay up later if the start times were changed. 

As of Monday morning, March 18, 263 people had signed the online petition.